Valent promotes three senior leaders

Mar 13, 2003

Valent U.S.A. Corporation has announced the promotions of three of its employees: Senior Director of Marketing and Product Management Anita Dale; Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Robin Demouth; and Senior Director of U.S. Sales and Valent de Mexico Donnie Taylor. All three are part of Valent's core operating team.

New Valent President Trevor Thorley said the promotions are recognition that the three have contributed significantly to Valent's success in a difficult agrichemical marketplace.

“I believe these changes more accurately reflect the scope and contribution of their positions to the organization,” Thorley said.

He noted that Demouth is general counsel and secretary to both Valent U.S.A. Corporation and Valent BioSciences Corporation, Valent's sister company. He said Demouth will also serve as company treasurer for both organizations.

“Donnie Taylor has led the Valent U.S.A. sales operation in a rapidly changing agricultural environment, and he has overcome many competitive objections,” Thorley said. “Sales in 2002 grew from 2001 levels compared to most of our competitors in a declining marketplace.”

Taylor said he is appreciative of this acknowledgment of his hard work.

“It has been a pleasure to have the responsibility of not only the Valent business in the U.S., but also the Canadian and Valent de Mexico business,” Taylor said. “I'm excited about this promotion and believe it demonstrates the increased responsibility and authority that I have.”

“Anita Dale leads Valent marketing efforts with many unique approaches that create focus by market and play to our ‘Valent value’ approach,” he said. “We are introducing new products with our strong channel partner strategies and value-added approaches.”

Dale said she thinks the many positions she has held at Valent in the nearly two decades that she has worked for the company reflect the unique environment that Valent provides its employees.

“I have had the opportunity to work not only in sales and marketing, but also in regulatory positions,” she said. “This new role will provide me with the ability to apply all the experiences I have had with Valent.”

“This is an exciting time for Valent and its parent company, Sumitomo Chemical Company, as we introduce exciting new active ingredients to create our future and introduce innovative new ways of doing business in a difficult marketplace,” Thorley said.

Valent U.S.A. Corporation markets and sells herbicides, insecticides, bio-insecticides, insect growth regulators, nematicides, baits and plant growth regulators for the agricultural, horticultural, turf, ornamental and professional pest control markets. Valent was founded in 1988 as a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited, a diversified manufacturer involved in many chemical-related businesses, and Chevron Chemical Company.

In 1991, Valent became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical.

In 2000, Sumitomo acquired the Ag Specialties Business of Abbott Laboratories, now Valent BioSciences Corporation, a subsidiary of Valent U.S.A. Valent BioSciences, which was formerly the Ag Specialties Business Unit of Abbott Laboratories, is a world leader in the development of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) applications where environmental preservation and pest resistance management are paramount. In 2001, Valent began marketing and distributing the Valent BioSciences product line.

For more information about Valent U.S.A., call 800-6-VALENT (682-5368), or visit the company's Web site at www.valent.com.